Inventory no.: 3314

Tibetan Woman’s Silver Turquoise Belt

SOLD

Silver, Filigree & Turquoise Woman’s Belt Ornament (Ghanjen or Gyenzen)

Tibet

19th century

 

width: 47cm,

length: 28cm, length of attached double chain: 58cm, total weight: 653g

 

This T-shaped belt ornament was worn by aristocratic women in Lhasa at waist level. Such ornaments were worn on important public occasions.

It comprises three heavy straps, each of six cords of woven silver wire decorated with silver plaques overlaid with fine silver filigree and set with turquoise cabochons.

The straps or arms radiate from a central, cast  dharma medallion set with turquoise. The two horizontal arms terminate with solid cast silver hooks. The lower arm terminates with another round dharma medallion to which a long heavy double silver chain is attached. The chain has at its other end a medallion plaque decorated with silver filigree and turquoise. It is unusual for this chain to still be attached. It is particularly heavy and valuable for its weight in silver in its own right.

Heavy belts such as these were worn with the central strap hanging down freely and with the chain attached to another part of the belt or dress. On important occasions, long strands of pearls, coral and turquoise beads were attached to the wheel-like end of the central strap. These could loop down almost to the ground and back up again where they were attached to the main garment somewhere near the shoulder.

There are minor losses to the filigree on the example here. All the turquoise is intact. It is in a fine and stable condition.

A belt of related form is illustrated in Casey Singer (1996, p. 142), and in Clarke (2004, p. 67).

References

Casey Singer, J., Gold Jewelry from Tibet and Nepal, Thames & Hudson, 1996.

Clarke, J., Jewellery of Tibet and the Himalayas, V&A Publications, 2004.

Provenance:

UK art market

Inventory no.: 3314

SOLD